Tsunade rested her hand gently on her belly, feeling the faint and warm stirrings of the life growing inside her. Every small movement made her chest tighten with a happiness she had never imagined she would feel. A few years ago, if someone had told her she would marry Jiraiya—Jiraiya, of all people—and even carry his child, she would have laughed, maybe even punched them through a wall. But now, everything she once thought impossible was unfolding right in front of her.
And all of it had changed after Naruto's return.
Shizune sat nearby, watching Lady Tsunade's serene expression with a soft smile. "Lady Tsunade," she said lightly, "once this baby arrives… doesn't that make me her aunt?"
Tsunade let out a small laugh. "Of course. You've always been like a sister to me. So yes, that definitely makes you her aunt."
Shizune's smile widened with genuine warmth. She was happy—truly happy—about the arrival of new life in their world, especially after so much tragedy over the years. Seeing Lady Tsunade glowing with joy felt like a blessing.
While the two were talking, footsteps echoed from the stairs. Jiraiya appeared, carrying his usual aura of casual confidence—and trouble.
"Tsunade!" he called cheerfully as he approached.
He walked over and stood in front of her, grinning. "I've taken care of all the wedding arrangements. Oh! And we should make sure Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama appear onstage together during the ceremony. They're family, after all."
Tsunade nodded. "Yes, I understand."
Jiraiya then turned toward Shizune. His eyes narrowed as he scanned her expression, posture, even her aura. He studied her so intently that Shizune blinked, startled.
"Jiraiya-sama?" she asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Jiraiya tapped his chin dramatically. "Shizune… be honest with me. Are you dating someone?"
"Huh?!" Shizune squeaked, taken aback. "Why would you ask that?!"
Jiraiya crossed his arms proudly. "Your eyebrows are too relaxed. You look brighter. Happier. That's the look of someone with a boyfriend."
Shizune's cheeks reddened instantly. She lowered her gaze and nodded shyly.
Jiraiya gasped in exaggerated shock. "Really?! Who is it?"
Shizune fidgeted before answering quietly, "It's… Kakashi."
"Ohhh!" Jiraiya burst out. "That explains it!"
Tsunade stood abruptly and shot him a look sharp enough to cut stone. "You're the most shameless man alive, yet somehow you can read things like this?"
Jiraiya puffed his chest proudly. "Well of course! After all, I'm the Pervy Sage—Hahaha! Ow! Ow ow—Tsunade, stop!"
Tsunade had already grabbed him by the ear, lifting him with ease.
"Don't embarrass yourself here. Come with me. I need to talk to you." Without waiting for a reply, she yanked him toward their room.
Before they disappeared, she looked back at Shizune. "Shizune, once you're done here, you can head home. I'll discuss things with Jiraiya."
"O-Okay, Lady Tsunade," Shizune replied, bowing respectfully.
Jiraiya attempted to give Shizune a confident grin, but with Tsunade tugging mercilessly on his ear, it only made him look ridiculous. Tsunade dragged him into the room, and the door slammed shut with a heavy bam.
Left alone in the quiet hallway, Shizune exhaled. "I should probably get going," she murmured. "Everything's already arranged anyway… even Jiraiya-sama's wedding decorations."
She stepped outside. The afternoon sun was still bright, the shadows stretching long—around four o'clock. In a rare good mood, Shizune hummed a light tune on her way home.
But her mind drifted elsewhere.
Should she go straight home?
Or… should she go see Kakashi?
Heat flooded her cheeks as last night's memories flashed through her mind—his touch, his warmth, the way he whispered her name. Just thinking about it made her feel warm and flustered all over again.
"O-Oh no," she muttered, covering her face. "I can't believe I'm acting like this…"
Kakashi would be done with work soon.
Maybe… maybe she could stop by casually.
Just casually.
Inside the Hokage Office Building:
Kakashi slipped through the hallway like he was performing an infiltration mission. It was already past two o'clock when he entered. He looked left, then right, checking every possible angle to make sure no one noticed him. Once he confirmed the coast was clear, he darted toward the Hokage's office.
When he reached the door, he peeked inside carefully.
Empty.
Perfect.
He slipped inside and closed the door gently, then let out a sigh of relief. "Good… no one saw me."
Kakashi walked over to his chair and sank into it, then swiveled slightly to face the vast view of Konoha through the large window. The village looked peaceful, almost glowing.
But Kakashi's mind was nowhere near peaceful.
Instead, it drifted back—to Shizune.
To last night.
His face burned beneath the mask. "Oh no… what am I doing…?"
He rubbed his forehead. He wasn't the type to get flustered over romance, yet here he was, unable to think straight. It was ridiculous.
He felt like some lovestruck teenager.
"It's… too much," he muttered, face warm. "I can't believe I'm acting like this…"
Before he could spiral further, the door suddenly swung open.
Kakashi jumped and immediately grabbed a stack of papers, pretending to be deeply absorbed in work. When the footsteps approached his desk, he looked up casually.
"Ah—Shikaku," he said, relieved it wasn't someone else. "You're here."
Shikaku Nara placed a pile of processed documents onto Kakashi's desk. "These are done. Look them over. If everything's fine, you can have someone send them out."
Kakashi nodded. "Good work, Shikaku."
But Shikaku didn't leave.
He just stood there.
Staring at him.
Kakashi blinked. "Uh… Shikaku? Something else?"
Shikaku smirked slightly. "Hokage-sama, you came in very late today."
Kakashi kept his composure. "Ah, yes. I had something to take care of this morning. Got delayed. Haha…"
Shikaku continued, "Interesting. Shizune didn't come in this morning either. Hokage-sama, do you know anything about that?"
Kakashi froze for half a second.
Of course Shikaku would see through things. He was one of the sharpest minds in the village. And there was no way Kakashi could say, Shizune stayed over at my place last night and that's why neither of us showed up on time.
That would be a nightmare.
So Kakashi maintained his polite smile. "Shizune told me yesterday that she needed to assist Lady Tsunade today, so she didn't come in. I approved her leave."
Shikaku nodded slowly, his smirk deepening. "Is that so? Good, good…"
He gave Kakashi a knowing look—a look that said I know exactly what happened—then turned and walked out.
Kakashi slumped back in his chair.
He didn't need the Sharingan to know one thing:
Shikaku was teasing him.
And he absolutely knew.
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